Towel rack attachment



Jan. 5, 1937.

. c. s. COMSTOCK TOWEL RACK ATTACHMENT Filed June 29, I 1955 6M)ZbgENTOR BY ATTORNEYS I I Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to friction devices for towel racks and has foran object to provide a simple, inexpensive and easily applied towel rackattachment which will effectively prevent towel slippage and which whenapplied to a towel rack is securely locked thereon.

An attachment embodying the invention consists of a split rubber sleevehaving a springmetal insert which is operative to lock the sleeve arounda rod to which it is applied. The locking means are so arranged thatthey are brought into operative relation by the act of applying thesleeve around the rod and are inaccessible after the sleeve has beenapplied, thus preventing removal thereof. This feature is of importancein connection with the use of such devices in hotels, inns, etc. toprevent theft of the same since the device is adapted for application topreviously installed towel racks.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent from the following specification and accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a towel rack equipped with attachmentembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an attachment;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the attachment;

' Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof, and

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The attachment consists of a split rubber sleeve III of any suitablelength, but is preferably of 1 to 2" in length. Within the sleeve I0 ismolded a U-shaped insert ll of spring wire bent into the form of a ringand having its ends projecting beyond one edge of the sleeve ID. Theinsert I l is so tensioned as to tend to move the edges of the sleevetoward each other. Hooks I2 are provided on the ends of the insert l I.The bight of the U-shaped insert II is set back from the remaining edgeof the sleeve and between the bight and the edge of the sleeve there isprovided a groove l3 opening into the interior of the sleeve andterminating at the edge of the sleeve. This groove is formed withundercut recesses M in which are provided notches l5 to be engaged bythe hooks I2 to lock the sleeve in closed condition.

The attachment is applied to a towel rod I6 simply by opening the sleevesuflicient to pass it over the rod and then closing the sleeve aroundthe rod with the insert ends extending into the undercut portions 14 ofthe groove l3. The hooks l2 engage in notches l5 and lock the sleevearound rod. The provision of a plurality of notches l5 permitsapplication of the sleeve to rods of slightly varying diameter. Thehooks l2 are inserted into the grooves 14 to such an extent that thesleeve grips the rod, thus preventing movement of the sleeve on the rodand the exterior rubber surface provides friction for preventingslippage of towels hung on the rack. After the sleeve has once beenapplied to a rod 5 it is firmly locked in place and cannot be removedwithout the use of tools or without damage to it, thus effectivelydeterring the unauthorized removal of the same. Pilfering of the devicefrom hotel rooms and the like is thus prevented. 10

Should the hooks l2 be accidentally engaged with the notches l5 beforethe attachment has been applied to a towel rack, disengagement of thehooks I2 from the notches l5 can easily be effected by means of asuitable tool inserted into 15 the groove l3. Thus, if in demonstratingthe device it has accidentally become locked, such condition may berectified.

It is, of course, apparent that modifications may be made in thestructure of the device above 20 described without in any way departingfrom the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A friction attachment for a towel rack com- 5 prising a split rubbersleeve having a recess in one edge, a metal insert in said sleeve havinga portion projecting beyond the other edge and being receivable in saidrecess, and inter-engaging means on said insert and sleeve for lockingthe 30 sleeve around the rod.

2. A friction attachment for a towel rack comprising a split rubbersleeve, metal members extending from one sleeve edge, recesses in theother sleeve edge to receive said members, hooks 35 on the ends of saidmembers, and notches in said sleeve for engagement by said hooks.

3. A friction attachment for a towel rack comprising a split rubbersleeve having its inner surface provided with a groove terminating atone 40 edge, a metal insert in said sleeve having extensions projectingfrom the other edge and being received in said groove, hooks at the endof said extensions and notches in the sides of said groove forengagement by said hooks to lock the sleeve 4 around a rod.

4. A friction attachment for a towel rack com- 7 prising a split rubbersleeve having its inner surface provided with a groove terminating atone edge, a U-shaped wire insert in said sleeve having its legs bentinto circular configuration with the ends extending beyond the otheredge of the sleeve and being received in said groove, hooks on saidprojecting ends and notches in the sides of said groove for engagementby said hooks to lock 55 the sleeve around a rod.

CLARK S. COMSTOCK,

